[GreenYes] [CRRA] Urge Governor to Veto AB2449

[Gary Liss <gary@no.address>]

Apologies for Cross-Postings:

Please join the CRRA Board (see below) and send Suggested Letter from 
Earth Resource Foundation urging Governor to veto AB2449:

REMEMBER PHONE CALLS AND HANDWRITTEN LETTERS ARE ALWAYS THE BEST

Contact the Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633

Email:   To send an Email please 
visit:  <http://www.govmail.ca.gov>http://www.govmail.ca.gov
*********************************************************************************************************Date

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

As a committed environmental activist with concerns about the plague 
of non-biodegradable plastics that now threatens the earth's 
ecosystems globally, I respectfully ask that you veto AB2449.

This bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Levine, was originally intended 
to help eliminate the glut of plastic bags that are wasted as a 
resource and end up as litter, landfill or in the ocean.  At the last 
minute and without notification, it was hijacked by the plastic 
industry and its intent was changed completely!

The only benefit of the current version was already contained in the 
original version: it would require grocery stores to collect plastic 
carryout bags.  This action will make little to no difference in the 
number of bags disposed as many stores already do this, encouraged by 
the current spike in scrap value for this type of plastic.  However, 
the amendment added on 8-28-06 prevents local governments from taking 
any innovative measures to reduce plastic bag waste until after 2013.

The bill is unacceptable for 2 main reasons:
1. It inhibits the rights of local counties, cities and districts to 
make the best decisions for their own local area and for themselves. 
The amended bill now prohibits localities from imposing fees, bans, 
levies, and restrictions on plastic carryout bags.  Local actions 
have often driven large, even global recycling improvements and 
innovations in the past, and it is critical to retain local power and 
flexibility so communities can control their own resource flows.

2. This bill, as written, will have very little discernable effect on 
the amount of plastic going onto the streets, into the oceans or into 
landfills. As stated above, stores already collect bags, but the vast 
majority (80%) is thrown away. The language of this bill is defeating 
environmental steps taken now and in the past to reduce, reuse, and 
recycle.  The bill is now crafted to allow plastic bag manufacturers 
to continue to sell their polluting product without restraint or any 
form of responsibility for the environmental consequences.

As the bill originally intended, we believe that this bill should:

a)      require bags to contain recycled content

b)      require stores to reduce their plastic bag usage as is 
required by the work in San Francisco

c)      require incentives for people that bring their own bags

d)      include specific definitions of what stores are involved, 
including malls, convenience stores, etc

e)      require educational material be posted prominently in stores

f)        provide money for education and/or enforcement

g)      require education of all store personnel who will interact 
with the public regarding the benefits of reusing bags & the 
detrimental effects of petroleum products and the littering of plastic bags.

We will support future efforts to craft a more comprehensive bill 
that will truly make a difference.
Please veto this bill and wait for a better one without these fatal 
flaws that would curtail local innovation.  We don't want our rights 
taken away and we don't want more plastic in our oceans or in our communities.

Respectfully yours,

Your name and address


>From: RicAnthony@no.address
>Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 00:21:39 EDT
>Subject: [CRRA] Re: Urgent - AB2449 on Governors Desk - last week  - 
>please ask to Veto
>
>CALIFORNIA RESOURCE RECOVERY  ASSOCIATION
>
>September 18, 2006
>Governor Arnold  Schwarzenegger
>State Capitol Building
>Sacramento, CA  95814
>
>TO:   Governor Schwarzenegger,
>FROM:  Board  of Directors, California Resource Recovery Association
>
>SUBJECT:  AB 2449 Levine) Restriction Of Local  Authority To Manage
>Solid Waste
>
>The Assembly and Senate voted to approve AB  2449 (Levine).  Initially this
>bill would have provided modest  environmental benefits by requiring
>supermarkets to recycle plastic bags  on-site. Unfortunately, the 
>bill was amended, with
>pressure from the plastics  industry, in ways that now make this bill
>unacceptable.
>
>The late  amendment means that the bill now restricts localities from
>imposing fees,  levies, and restrictions on plastic bags. The 
>California Resource
>Recovery  Association Board of Directors recommend a veto on this bill.
>Voluntary plastic bag  redemption programs in grocery programs 
>do  not warrant taking
>  away local governments ability to recover  related disposal and pollution
>abatement costs.
>
>Please veto AB  2449.
>
>CC: Assembly Member Levine, CRRA,  CAW
>______________________________________________________
>Richard  Anthony Policy Chair
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com